Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Washington, D.C. - Following the terrorist attacks in
Belgium, officials have noted there are no credible threats to the
region, but they are encouraging area residents to stay vigilant and
report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

“We can all help keep our communities safe by paying
attention to our surroundings,” said David Snyder, who serves as Chairman
of the National Capital Region Emergency Preparedness Council. Snyder is
also a City of Falls Church Councilmember. “If you see something suspicious,
please say something to local law enforcement.”

Local, state, and federal public safety agencies continue to
work together and coordinate prevention and protection initiatives.

Examples of Suspicious Activity

Suspicious activity is any observed behavior that could
indicate terrorism or terrorism-related crime. This includes, but is not
limited to:

-Unusual items or situations: A
vehicle is parked in an odd location, a package/luggage is unattended, a
window/door is open that is usually closed, or other out-of-the-ordinary
situations occur.

Whenever I think about the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department Bomb Squad I envision our members with nerves of steel, skilled hands, quick thinkers, patience and focused vision to the task at hand. I see the large protective suits, robots and portable x-ray machines being used to render safe a suspicious package. Our Bomb Squad is all that and much more but above all they are compassionate humans that began their careers as firefighters.

At a recent PGFD Bomb Squad drill members used their skills to construct 48 "beeping" Easter eggs for visually impaired children. Bomb Techs used the opportunity as a drill in electronics with the outcome enabling visually impaired children the opportunity to hunt for Easter eggs. A typical egg hunt is a visual task but these eggs utilize a different sense. The eggs were constructed to allow for multi-time use and rough handling. The colorful plastic eggs and components were donated by the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators.

The completed "beeping" eggs were donated to the "Vision Program," a part of Programs and Services for the Department of Special Education of Prince George's County Public Schools.

All images are provided with courtesy of the Prince Georges County Fire/EMS Department. Photo credit to Teresa Ann Crisman, PGFD.

LODD April 15, 2016

Fire Fighter/Medic Lieutenant John "Skillet" Ulmschneider

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Tragically firefighters will find pets that have been injured in home fires. Sometimes owners are not availiable to bring their pet to a emergency vet or may not have the resources to afford medical care. The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department and the Anne Arundel County SPCA have teamed up and created a fund whereas medical care for the pet would be covered in part or in full.
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